Africa: MTN Group releases 2015 Sustainability Report

MTN Group continues to make strides in achieving its sustainability vision of protecting and creating economic value for the company and its stakeholders, through responsible environmental and social core business practices.

The Group has released its annual Sustainability Report for 2015, which details how MTN is delivering on the three sustainability focus areas of creating sustainable economic value, reducing its environmental impact and delivering societal value in a sustainable and ethical manner.

“Like all businesses, we face challenges from time to time. However, we are not deterred in our sustainability journey. As a major ICT role-player in emerging markets, we are acutely aware that our resources can make a meaningful difference to the lives of our customers and communities,” states MTN Executive Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko, in the report.

MTN Executive Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko

As part of our efforts to create sustainable economic value through digital inclusion, MTN rolled out a number of key initiatives in the past year. MTN also rolled out its Internet of Things (IoT) platform in 2015, which is allowing digital solutions to contribute to the efficient use of resources in the energy, water and agricultural sectors through solutions such as smart metering. Smart meters monitor the consumption of resources such as water or electricity, via remote application infrastructure, and provides insight into how, when and where such resources are used. Other digital inclusion initiatives span across driving the use of smartphones by offering affordable handsets, as well as m-health, m-education and m-insurance services, among others.

In the area of eco-responsibility, MTN’s investments in efficient and green power sources, energy, carbon accounting programmes, e-waste management and office greening projects, are ensuring the company continually works towards achieving more, with fewer resources, and a reduced environmental impact.

To this end, key highlights for 2015 include:
– 329 green sites across the MTN network
– 7 947tCO2e Green House Gas emissions avoided
– Between 2011 and 2014, energy efficiency solutions have been implemented at 9 989 network sites, as well as at data centres, switches, hubs and office buildings. In 2015, an additional 450 sites were improved.
– 534,5 tonnes of e-waste handed over for extracting valuable elements and components and safe disposal in 2015.
“In 2016, we hope to continue to enabling digital dividends for our stakeholders by harnessing the spirit of innovation and collaboratively developing solutions to opportunities and real-life challenges in our markets,” concluded Nhleko.